They Always Run

• Genre: Platforming Action
• Time Played: ~12 Hours
• Too Short/Long: Just when it was feeling too long it started to feel too short.
• Pleased/Disappointed: Very pleased, I liked it a lot, but there are aspects that were disappointing.
• Why I played: Kind of on a whim, I was waiting for a sale on Switch, I don't think it's been on sale yet, compared to Steam that regularly went on sale, I think it was on it's highest sale yet and just started playing it immediately when seeing what would work on Steam deck.
• Recommend to others: Tough, I really liked it, but I'm not sure everyone would see past some of the jank.

They Always Run is a pretty cool action platformer, more focus on the action - but a good amount on platforming too. Combat has a good set of diverse mechanics. It's not just stab with weapon and jump around enemy. It can be, but then you're not really doing it right. A lot of focus on counters and using your third arm, and switching up between basic attacks and guns. It does that right for the most part.

Generally the game feels good but there are definitely times where things are stiff or awkward, rather than as smooth as it should be, and this game really wants to be smooth. Also a couple level design choices that are kinda iffy for the kind of game that it is and a few too many instant death instances. Combat is tough if you don't actually utilize all the mechanics and you take large percentages of damage with almost every attack. There are heals, but getting healing items is kinda rare. Sometimes there is just a lot of fighting and when one hit takes almost half your HP you can't afford it much.

But, utilizing all that's at your disposal and maintaining a certain patience to adhere to the flow of combat can be very rewarding. Also, the game's art is gorgeous. Soundtrack can be cool at times but mostly nothing too special til the very end.

There are some sequences where you will be chancing enemies. I thought these were great, I feel like, given the theme, and the title, there should have been far more of these. There are like 2... 3 tops? For a 10 hour game, should have been a couple more sprinkled in. 

It definitely didn't feel like 10 hours though, they put a lot in that. There is a good bit of narrative as Aiden(the main character) will always be on comms with somebody, and sometimes team mates are on the field, and sometimes you're prompted to answer things. It's not the biggest story focus of any game, but it's not the barebones a 2d action platformer usual has. It's meaty enough for sure.

The biggest problem I felt is just as I was getting tired of fighting more guys in a room, it has a big open section that finally utilized pretty much all the platforming techniques you've learned up til now. No pressure though, go at your own pace. it would have been cool if that whole area was a chase sequence... or at least some of it.

There is also the big reveal of everything from each angle at the end, which really really made me want to keep playing and then the game just ends. It kinda ends after everything big happens, but without an actual conclusion. So... it pretty much NEEDS a sequel, but I don't know if there are any plans for that. If one comes out I will play it immediately though.